QuaLiFY is an SME-targeted collaborative project, meaning most of the partners (12) are small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Together with the research organisations, they are using results from previous EU-funded research to develop commercial opportunities.

SME: RTD Services (RTDS), Austria

RTDS is an SME specializing in the development, management and communication of Research and Technological Development projects. RTDS provides professional management and dissemination services, tools and training to research institutions, SMEs and other organizations involved in international research and cooperation. RTDS is partner in several completed and on-going European Union Framework projects covering health, environment, food and agriculture (KBBE), and science-in-society.

SME: European Food Information Resource (EuroFIR), Belgium

EuroFIR is a non-profit-distributing international member-based organization based in Belgium. Its purpose is to develop, manage, publish and exploit food composition data, and promote international cooperation and harmonization of standards to improve data quality, storage and access. EuroFIR AISBL draws together the best available food information globally from 26 compiler organizations in Europe, Australia, Canada and the US as well as validated information about bioactive compounds.

NuGO was established in 2008 as a not-for-profit legal entity. Membership is open to legal entities that can contribute to the goals of the Association. The long-term objectives are to promote the science of nutritional genomics within the European Union and worldwide, and stimulate the exploitation of scientific discoveries in the field of nutrition and genomics for the benefit of the European Union citizens.

SME: Vivsan GmbH (VIV), Germany

Vivsan is an SME specializing in nutritional assessment services for children in schools and nurseries, and at home. Vivsan has developed a unique platform that engages all stakeholders associated with a healthy diet for children and an active lifestyle. The service was awarded with an Innovation prize in 2011, from the University Catolica San Antonio (ES), and was implemented throughout Germany in 2012.

SME: SONCE.NET, digital marketing (SON), Slovenia

SON is the leading national digital agency specialising in development of new business models, e-services and digital marketing in Slovenia, and has been awarded a number of prizes and awards for innovations and business excellence. Sonce.net creates an Internet presence and turns it into building blocks for successful business operations and communication.

SME: Food Angels UK Limited (FoodWiz), United Kingdom

FoodWiz is an SME specializing in the management of chronic illness through technology. In 2011, FoodWiz designed, developed and launched a smart phone app for the control of food allergies, in conjunction with Allergy UK and major supermarkets in the UK.

SME: 23ème Homme SARL (23em), France

23em was created in 2008. The company is dedicated to bringing added value in a range of specialized areas where integration of IT-solutions can bring benefits to clients. They have established core know-how in the fields of data presentation, online strategy development, web marketing, and specialized web-based IT-solutions. 23em deliver innovative technical expertise and bring about new solutions.

TNO is an independent non-profit research organization with a staff of approximately 4000. Established in 1932, TNO's public mission has been laid down in law to support industry and society in transforming knowledge into products and processes of economic and societal value. TNO's expertise and research makes an important contribution to the competitiveness of companies and organizations, the economy and the quality of society as a whole. TNO's unique position is attributable to its versatility and capacity to integrate this knowledge.

SME: SwissAnalysis AG (SAG), Switzerland

Due to individual genetic and metabolic differences, it is nearly impossible to give specific nutritional advice to the public. SAG is developing analysis profiles that are suitable for personalized advice and can be used to adapt individuals' nutrition or lifestyle habits. SAG uses biomarkers and genetic information, which examine how micronutrients are involved in supporting health. Past diagnostics in this field only determined micronutrients in the blood whilst SAG's concept based on achieving an optimal level for the individual. This approach has been adapted by SAG using biomarkers that control harmful processes, like inflammation or oxidative stress. These are important in maintaining health and reducing the risk of developing chronic disease. SAG also acts as local and trans-regional laboratory, for physicians, and uses a range of modern clinical chemistry, haematology, immunology, HPLC, GC and other techniques.

SME: IP Health Solutions B.V. (IPH), The Netherlands

IPH is an SME that provides online health support for everyone. VitalinQ, a bespoke online health tool, allows users to monitor food intake and movement (e.g. steps) as well as daily exercise. Based on these measures, IHP can provide the user with professional advice about diet and exercise. IHP does not only create online websites, but also applications that run on smart phones, tablets and, in the future, might be found in your scales or the refrigerator. The core business of IHP is to provide self-management tools for health with sustained professional support.

SME: SafeCape Software Solutions Ltd. (SAFE), Greece

SAFE is a Silver ISV Microsoft Partner, a recognized independent software vendor (ISV), developing high technology information systems and innovative software applications. SAFE has developed a wide range of state-of-the-art software solutions for the banking sector, private and public insurance and re-insurance sectors as well as healthcare. Rules Toolset, developed by SAFE, is a cloud-based tool for delivering personalized healthcare information. It is a unique product supporting scientists in transforming synergistic input, from nutritional, biological, medical and genetic information, into a comprehensive but simple report from which individualized healthcare programmes can be developed. SAFE provides consulting services for software development, application lifecycle management, and cloud computing.

SME: The Hyve B.V. (Hyve), The Netherlands

Hyve is a Dutch SME specialising in the support and facilitation of sustainable open source bioinformatics and clinical research software development located in Utrecht Science Park (NL). It has carried out software development and testing in a number for FP6 and FP7 consortia (e.g. AntiResDev, EURRECA, Bioclaims and Food4me) and considerable experience in facilitating software for bioinformatics, biologists and healthcare professionals. They specialize in software for data handling and visualization of so-called ‘multi-omics' studies, which involve many different assays at different levels. These kinds of studies are often used to elucidate biological interactions and mechanisms, such as gene-diet-environment interactions and metabolic pathways, and this process requires data re-processing, matching through known associations from literature (e.g. protein-metabolite interactions) and statistical evaluation to understand those that might be significant. Hyve uses technologies such as NoSQL databases (Hadoop, MongoDB) and cloud computing (IaaS: Amason AWS, Rackspace; PaaS: CloudFoundry), and is also interested in translational medicine, using clinical data and imaging data from hospital information systems with biobanking and molecular research data, in order to facilitate medical research.

SME: Vitas AS (VIT), Norway

VIT is a GMP (good manufacturing practice)-certified chemical analysis contract lab, providing a high quality, customized analytical service, based on cutting-edge knowledge and technology. VIT has 20 years of experience of measuring important biomarkers in biological samples from a range of sample types and species, including dried blood spots. An extensive repertoire of nutritionally important biomarkers is available to VIT because of its close relationship with the Institute of Nutrition Research, University of Oslo.

SME: shiftN, Belgium

shiftN is a consultancy company with 15 years of experience in helping clients get to grips with complexity (bringing clarity in complexity). Its core competencies are very diverse, but include working on, and exploiting the synergies between, three key areas: systems thinking, multi-stakeholder dialogue, and design. Developing and visualizing frameworks, which allow people to think about the whole system, whether these are societal models, business systems or organization structures, means shiftN knows how to bring people around a table to engage in respectful and focused collaborative work, and tap the creative potential of a hands-on design approach, which creates something out of nothing. shiftN works on a wide range of subjects including food, nutrition and healthcare, and interacts with a diverse client base in over 30 countries.

RTO: Jozef Stefan Institute (JSI), Slovenia

JSI is the leading national research organization for basic and applied research in natural sciences and technology in Slovenia, with about 900 employees. JSI is concerned primarily with the design automation of computing structures and systems, concentrating on metaheuristic optimization approaches to engineering design and logistics problems as well as electronic system design and test. JSI also performs research in advanced IT aimed at acquiring, storing and managing knowledge. Established areas include intelligent data analysis, text and web mining, and decision support. JSI develops applications in environmental sciences and ecology, medicine and healthcare, biomedicine and genetics, economy and marketing. JSI is involved 140 on-going FP7 projects.

RTO: Institute of Food Research (IFR), United Kingdom

IFR is a world leader in research into harnessing food for health and preventing food-related diseases and is the only UK institute wholly dedicated to food science, and diet and health. IFR has been active in EU projects since 1983 (currently involved in more than 60 projects, work package leader or coordinator in more than 30%). IFR is recognised internationally for its communication activities and knowledge exchange, which is globally networked through its Food and Health Network (FHN, www.foodandhealthnetwork.com). IFR is a founding member of the European Technology Platform Food for Life (etp.ciaa.eu) and FOODforce (www.foodforce.org), and developing a Food Knowledge and Innovation Community (KIC, www.foodbestoresund.eu) to integrate the education, research and innovation sectors.